Abstract: A technology for delivering a ceramide across the horny layer of skin to sufficiently exert the effects of the ceramide is disclosed. Specifically, an external preparation for skin containing a ceramide delivers the ceramide across the horny layer to near the dermis when the skin preparation is applied on the skin surface. The described skin external preparation contains a ceramide, an organically modified clay mineral, a diester of N-acylglutamic acid, and a phytosterol as components in the form of water-in-oil emulsion.

Abstract: To provide An external skin agent that prevents onset of atopic skin inflammations and is low irritant to skin, which is characterized by including: 1) clay modified by a compound having a quaternary amino group; and 2) a polymer or copolymer that has a side chain including a structure similar to a biological component.

Abstract: The present invention provides an organic inorganic composite powder which has a specific particle shape in accordance with to a washing solvent, which contains fine inorganic particles, and which easily disperses in water by: precipitating a metal salt dissolved in a reaction solvent from the reaction solvent through neutralization or reduction in the presence of a polymer or monomer dissolved in the reaction solvent; polymerizing the monomer after precipitation of the metal salt in the case where the monomer forms no composite with the metal salt during precipitation in the presence of the monomer; washing the obtained precipitate with a specific washing solvent; and drying the resultant.

Abstract: Biphenyl derivatives represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 represents a C5-7 alkyl group, R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon, or cycloalkyl group, R3 represents a tetrazolyl group, —NHCOCF3, —NHSO2CF3 or —SO2NHCONHR4 in which R4 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, and Z represents a single bond, a C1-4 alkylene group or —SO2NH—, and salts thereof; and ACAT inhibitors and medicines containing them as active ingredients. The compounds according to the present invention possess excellent ACAT inhibitory activities, and are useful as preventives and/or therapeutics for diseases cased by the enhancement of ACAT activity, for example, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and the like.

Abstract: In a triterpenic acid having hydroxyl groups, at least one of the hydroxyl groups is phosphorylated to produce a phosphorylated triterpenic acid and/or a salt thereof, thereby improving the solubility of the triterpenic acid in a preparation for external application for the skin and allowing the physiological activity of the triterpenic acid to be exerted satisfactorily. The phosphorylated triterpenic acid is preferably, for example, ursolic acid phosphate and/or a salt thereof. The preparation for external application for the skin is preferably a cosmetic, particularly preferably a quasi-drug.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a novel skin-whitening agent; and a skin-whitening cosmetic or quasi-drug which is highly effective for prevention/amelioration of melanopathy and is prepared using the skin-whitening agent. The cosmetic contains a compound represented by the general formula (I) and/or a salt thereof as an active ingredient. In the general formula (I), R1 and R2 independently represent a secondary or tertiary alkyl group having 3 to 7 carbon atoms; and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method of estimating a visual evaluation value of beauty of a skin, and a device and a program for calculating a visual evaluation value of beauty of a skin are provided. Anybody can easily estimate a visual evaluation value of beauty of a skin objectively and quantitatively. A visual evaluation value of beauty of the skin is estimated by using a correlation between a visual evaluation value of beauty of the skin and a fractal dimension of a distribution of a color system signal of an image of the skin or a 3-dimensional skin surface relief value of a skin surface.

Abstract: A method for preparing corneocytes specimen, which comprises stripping off corneocytes from the surface of a skin using an adhesive material, staining the corneocytes in a solution of stain in solvent containing a water-miscible organic solvent, and mounting the stained corneocytes into an oil and fat constituent and/or composition that is liquid at 1 atm, 25° C.

Abstract: A method for preparing corneocites specimen, which comprises stripping off corneocites from the surface of a skin using an adhesive material, staining the corneocites in a solution of stain in solvent containing a water-miscible organic solvent, and mounting the stained corneocites into an oil and fat constituent and/or composition that is liquid at 1 atm, 25° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for electroporation which are useful in elevating percutaneous absorbability of drugs, etc. By controlling electrolyte concentration of compositions for electroporation so as to make an osmotic pressure of the compositions not more than a physical osmotic pressure, the percutaneous absorbability of drugs can be elevated.

Abstract: A beauty information providing system, includes: a first computer used in counseling of a customer who visits a merchandise store; a second computer used in counseling of a customer who visits an aesthetic treatment salon; a server connected to the first and second computers via communication networks; evaluation result creating unit which creates results of evaluating a customer's skin based on at least results of analysis on images of corneocytes collected from the customer's skin, results of analysis on enlarged images of the customer's skin, and the customer's answers to a skin evaluation questionnaire; and screen data creating unit which creates screen data for showing the evaluation results, screen data for showing skin care advice suited to the evaluation results, and screen data for showing an aesthetic treatment recipe suited to the evaluation results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for electroporation which are useful in elevating a percutaneous absorbability of drugs, etc. By adding polyhydric alcohols to compositions for electroporation, the percutaneous absorbability of drugs is elevated.

Abstract: A correct viable cell number of a microorganism in a biological tissue is measured by cultivating a fragment of the biological tissue such as skin infected with the microorganism and administered with an antimicrobial agent, in a medium containing a phospholipid, a nonionic surfactant, or both of the phospholipid and the nonionic surfactant.

Abstract: A correct viable cell number of a microorganism in a biological tissue is measured by cultivating a fragment of the biological tissue such as skin infected with the microorganism and administered with an antimicrobial agent, in a medium containing a phospholipid, a nonionic surfactant, or both of the phospholipid and the nonionic surfactant.

Abstract: Dibenzosuberanyl piperazine derivatives represented by the following formula (I): wherein R represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, which may contain one or more heteroatom-containing substituent groups and may preferably contain 2 to 30 carbon atoms, and physiologically acceptable salts thereof; and medicinal compositions containing these dibenzosuberanyl piperazine derivatives and/or physiologically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds show effectiveness in allowing resistance-acquired causes of diseases to restore sensitivity to drug, that is, a resistance overcoming effect.

Abstract: The present invention is a composition for percutaneous administration suitable for electroporation. Percutaneous absorption of a drug and so forth in a composition for electroporation can be promoted by adding alkaline earth metal ions to the composition.

Abstract: Benzofuran derivatives represented by formula (I) or salts thereof: (wherein R1 represents a phenyl group or a hydrogen atom; k is 0 or 1; each of m, n, o, p, and q is an integer of 0 to 5; and each of R2 and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, or R2 and R3 together represent an oxygen atom, with proviso that k, q, and m, or n, o, and p are not simultaneously 0). The compounds inhibit phosphorylation of STAT 6 and are useful in the treatment or prevention of allergic diseases.

Abstract: A device for measuring mechanical properties of an elastic body, comprising: at least two contacts adapted to contact a surface of an elastic body to be measured, at least one of said contacts being a movable contact; a drive section for moving said movable contact; a control section for controlling an action of said drive section; a detecting section for detecting a stress generated by the movement of said contact as an electric signal; and a processing section for processing the electric signal for the stress detected by said detecting section and an amount of movement of said movable contact, wherein the action of said contacts making contact with the surface of said elastic body includes a closing action of the two of the contacts and a stationarily holding action after the closing action.

Abstract: A nitroimidazole derivative represented by the following formula (1): [wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C4 alkanoyl group; and X represents a fluorine atom or an isotope thereof], and a diagnostic imaging agent containing the derivative as an active ingredient. The derivative enables imaging of the ischemic sites of a circulatory organ or imaging of cancer cells, and thus the derivative can provide information about the position and the amount of the ischemic sites or the cancer cells. Therefore, the derivative contributes to selection of appropriate treatment of ischemia or cancer.